Thermostatic circuit breaker



Mar. 3. 1925. 1,528,289

F. J. CID

THERMO STATI C CIRCUIT BREAKER Original Filed Deo. 30, 1922 Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNI TED lSTATES fr ATENT orties.

FOUAD JEAN CID, 0E QUEBEC, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO RUDOLPH JORON, OF CHICOUTIME, QUEBEC, CANADA.

THERMOSTATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application led December 30, 1922, Serial No. 610,067. Renewed January 26. 1925.

To all whom t may concern.'

`Be it known that I, FOUAD JEAN Cin, a British subject, residing at #22 Palace St., in the city of Quebec, in the Province of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tliermostatic Circuit Breakers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a true, clear, and exact description of the same. Y

The present invention relates to improve-- ments in thermal circuit breakers and is fully described in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a. vertical section through Figure 1 on line 2 2.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, with the casing partly broken away to show the inner arrangement, two superposed thermostats being shown in dotted line.

Figure i is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the circuit breaker mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each ligure.

Referringv to the drawings 1 is a cup-shaped circular casing preferably of insulating material suoli as porcelain, having a plurality of air circulating openings 2 and 3, said casing being provided rwith a central projection l which is centrally bored at 5, and 6 are enlarged circular portions provided at opposite ends of said bore 5. The inner side of said casing 1 is provided with a vertical groove or guideway 7. In said bore 5 is located the threaded sleeve S, said threaded sleeve 8 having at its upper end a flange 9 which engages inthe upper enlarged recess 6, and 10 is a bracket having a central downward threaded projectionL 11 and adapted to engage said threaded sleeve 8' in which it is secured.v This bracket has at its outer end a central threaded hole in which engages the thumb screw 12, the head of said thumb screw preferably resting against the edges of said lower enlarged recess 6, and thereby rigidly securing said bracket 10 in said casing 1.

On said bracket 10 is rigidly.Y mounted the thermostat 13. which extends within said casing 1, said thermostat 13 having provided on itsedges a boss or pin 14: adapted to engage the guideway .7. 0n the upper side of said thermostat 13 is secured a controlling member 15, said member ext-ending vertically and being centrally bored at 1'6, said bore communicating with said thermostat. A suitable liqui'dlsuch as pure alcohol may be introduced through the open end of the bore 16 into said thermostat.

The vertical portion of the controlling vmember 15 is preferably provided with a sleeve 17 of non-conductive material, such as libre, wiich extends to about two-thirds of its length, the remaining portion being provided with a collar or ring 18 ofV conductive material such as platinum. The said member preferably extends vertically through a bushing of non-conductive material 19, which is secured inthe cross bar 20, the saidcross'bar being suitably secured at its' ends by the screws 21 which engage the inner side of said casing 1. The cross bar 2O is centrally provided with an offset tubular portion 22, said tubular portion being lined with non-conductive material 23, withinwhich is slidably mountedthe'plunger of conductive material 24.-, said plunger preferably normally contacting with the sleeve 18 mounted onvsaid member 15. Said plunger is connected tothe electrical conductor 25, and 26 is a spiral spring winding around said conductor 25 and abutting at one end against said plunger and at its other end against the threaded plugY 27,'said conductor 25 being preferably connected'in circuit with a suitable alarm not shown).

On said cross bar 20, adjacent one end thereof, is pivotally secured the spring contact strip 28 by'means of the screw 29,said Contact strip being provided at its free end with a lug 30. The lug 30 is adapted to continually contact. with the upper end of the member 15 and it also functions as a stopper or plug to constantly close the upper end of the bore 1G of said member; the pivotal mounting of the spring contact strip 28 enabling it to be'swung to one side so as to uncover-said bore end and thus permit the previously mentioned iilling operation. An electrical conductor 31 is preferably secured'to said terminal or screw 29,' so that the spring 28 thereby completes acircuit whereinthe alarm, the-conductor 25, the plunger 24 andthe conducting ring 18are included. Illustration, diagrammatical or otherwise, of this circuit is omitted as not being necessary to an understanding of the invention.

Normally'the' circuit is closed. Upon the expansion of the thermostat 13, `the controlling member 15 will move upwardly through the bushing 19 in the cross bar 20, thus carrying with it the sleeve lr( of nonconductive material, which is secured toit 'and which will come into contact with the plunger 24, thus breaking the circuit. Immediately upon breaking thecircuit, the lire alarm or other suitable device will be operated. i

In Fig. 3, two thermostats are illustrated and, it will readily be seen that three or even more thermostats may also be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Vf hat I claim as my invention is l. A thermal circuit breaker consisting ot a casing, a thermostat mounted within said casing, a member mounted over said thermostat to move therewith and provide with a bore which communicates with the interior of said thermostat, said member having a portion ot non-conductive material and a portion ot conductive material, a cross bar secured in said casing and having Van opening to receive said member, said cross bar having an outwardly projecting recessedV portion, a plunger movably mounted within said recessed portion and adapted to contact with said member, and a contact element adaptedV to contact with Ysaid member; saidV plunger, said contact element and said member adapted to be included in an electric circuit.

2. A thermal circuit breaker comprisingY cate with the interior thereof, a sleeve of non-conductive material extending around a portion of said member, a cross bar secured in said casing and having an opening 4to receive the upper end of said member,

said cross bar having an outwardly projectingl Vrecessed portion, a plunger movably mounted within said recessed portion and adapted to contact with said member, means to press said plunger against said member, a

contact element mounted at one end on said cross bar, said contact element being adapted to contact at its free end with the upper end ot said member; said plunger, said member `and said contact element adapted to be included Vin an electric circuit, and means in one side of said casing to guide said thermostat during its expansion.

3. A thermal circuit breaker comprising a casing, a thermostat mounted within said casing, a cross bar mounted above said thermostat, said cross barbeing 'provided with an opening and with a laterally-projecting' recessed portion, la plunger movable within said recessed portion, a contact element mounted on said cross bar, a vertical member mounted on said thermostat-and engaged in said opening, said-member being normally disposed in electrical Contact with said plunger and said contact element so as to close an electric circuit wherein those parts are included, and means on said member to open such circuit consequent upon the expansion of the thermostat when the surrounding temperature rises to a predetermined point.

4. In a thermal 4circuit breaker, the combination of a thermostat; a controlling member mounted on the thermostat to move therewith and having succeeding insulatingv and conducting portions; a conducting element in electrical connection with said conducting portion; and a Vcontact normally engaging said conducting port-ion to close a circuit wherein the said conducting portion, the conducting element and the contact itself are included; said contact being automatically disengaged t'rom said'conducting portion and engaged with said insulating poi'- tioii consequent upon the movement of the thermostat in one direct-ion, thereby toopen such circuit.

5.V A thermal circuit breaker, according to claim t, in which the contact consists of a spring-actuated plunger; and in which a guide is provided wherein said plunger slidably lits, said guide having an open inner end to enable access of the plunger to the conducting and insulating portions of the controlling member.

6. In a thermal'circuit breaker, the combination of a thermostat; a cont-rolling member mounted perpendicularly on the thermostat to move therewith and 'having an inner insulating portion and an outer conducting portion; a conducting element in 'electrical connection with the 'conducting portion of said member; and a contact normally en-A portion; a conducting element in electrical llO connection with the conducting portion of Y said member; a spring-pressed plunger normally engaging said conducting portion to close a circuit wherein the'said conducting port-ion, the conducting element yand the plunger itself are included, whereby the expansion Ot the thermostat will move the controlling member in a direction to withdraw its conducting portion trom, and bring its insulating portion into, engagement with the contact soas to automatically open such circuit; and a hollow support wherein the plunger is slidably mounted having an open end to enable access Ot the plunger to the conducting and insulating portions Ot the controlling member.

8. In a thermal circuit breaker, the combination or" a thermostat; a controlling mem ber mounted On the thermostat to move therewith; a sleeve of insulating material mounted 0n the inner portion of said member; a ring of conducting material mounted on the outer portion of said member; a cone ducting element constantly engaging said conducting ring; and a contact normally engaging said ring to close a circuit wherein the said ring, the conducting element and the Contact itself are included, whereby the expansion of the` thermostat will move said controlling member in an outward direction so as to withdraw said ring from engagement with said Contact and bring the insulating sleeve into engagement therewith, to automatically open such circuit.

9. In a thermal circuit breaker, the combination of a casing; a cross bar bridging the same and provided with an opening; a

thermostat mounted in the casing; a controlling member mounted or. the thermostat to move therewith and having an outer conduct-ing portion which is slidably engaged in said Opening, said member also having an inner insulating portion; a conducting spring mounted on said bar and constantly engaging the conducting portion of the controlling member; and a contact normally engaging said conducting portion to close a circuit wherein said conduct-ing spring, said conducting portion and said contact itself are included, whereby the expansion of the thermostat will move said conducting portion out of, and said insulating portion into, engagement with said contact, so as to automatically open such circuit.

l0. A thermal circuit breaker, according to claim 9, in which the cross bar is additionally provided with a hollow, late-rallyprojecting guide wherein the Contact is slidably iitted, said guide having an open inner end to enable access of said contact to the conducting and insulating portions of the controlling member; and in which a spring is disposed in the guide to press said contact toward said member.

Signed at Quebec, Canada, this 2nd day of December, 1922.

FOUAD JEAN CID. TVitnesses ANTONIO BENOIT, C. PA'rnNAUDn. 

